Prophets In Islam

Before speaking of the prophets of Islam, let me give you an analogy. Well, it’s a bit ‘as a story and an analogy, but it should help to explain the meaning of the prophets of Islam.

I remember when I learned to drive. It ‘been to Brooklyn, NY and I was very nervous. I’m glad I did not hit anything and I got my license on my first attempt. Luckily I had a good teacher.

Can you imagine learning to drive without a teacher? What if it was ordered to obtain a license but have not found anyone to teach? Do you think it would be easy?

Allah has commanded us to worship him. And in his infinite mercy, has sent thousands of prophets as guides to help us. These prophets of Islam have come to man from the beginning of our existence. The first of these prophets was Adam, and was the last Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them all.

The Arabic word for prophet is Nabi. The prophets or Nabiyun (plural prophets) has acted as guides and reminders for the man. They were usually sent to a specific group of people that the performance of specific faults. The prophets would encourage their people to live righteously and worship Allah alone.

Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them all.
The prophets whose people have been punished by Allah

Sometimes people have listened to their prophets. And sometimes they did not. Those who have not been punished by Allah.

Here is a list of the prophets of Islam whose people do not listen and received the punishment of Allah:

* Noah – He urged his people to stop worshiping idols and worship only the true monotheism of Allah seconds. Nuh (Noah in Arabic) called his people to Islam for 950 years. In all this time, only eighty people accepted his call. Even the son of Noah, rejected the truth. Allah has punished them with a great flood that is still spoken of until now in almost all civilizations.
* HUD – It ‘was sent to the sons of Ad in what is now Yemen. HUD also tried to lead his people toward Islamic monotheism. For above all, mocked and insulted, and HUD has continued to worship idols. Allah punished them by causing a severe drought, then sending a large cloud. To think that this would bring rain cloud but only brought a mighty wind that destroyed their civilization.
* Salih – This prophet was sent to the people that worshiped idols of Thamud. The Thamud lived in magnificent buildings carved into the sides of mountains and hills. They refused to worship Allah Salih unless brought them a miracle. So Allah caused a huge rock to split and brought a camel out of it. Most Thamud still did not believe they were then punished with a series of violent earthquakes.
* Lut – The people of Sodom and Gomorrah practiced homosexuality openly and in secret. The Prophet Lut (Lot in English) was sent to warn them of the punishment of Allah. Lut encouraged them to repent of their sins and worship Allah alone. When they refused, God sent two angels to warn Lot of the destruction in progress. Lot and his family (except his wife who was not a believer), fled the city. Allah sent a storm of rocks and earthquakes. The entire city was destroyed. Today, the city is under the Dead Sea in Palestine, and nothing can live or grow here.
* Shuaib – Shuaib was sent to the people of Midian. The Midianites were excellent craftsmen, but resorted to cheating and lying to their wares. Bandits who were also deprive travelers on the roads. Shuaib tried to lead them to Islamic monotheism, but they refused. When Allah decreed their punishment, Shuaib and his few followers fled the city. Allah sent a powerful blow that flattened everything about everyone, Midian killing and letting in a position of prostration.
* Musa – Moses was sent to his people, the Israelites who were enslaved to the Egyptians at that time. Musa and his brother Haroon (Aaron) had a mission to drive the Pharaoh of Egypt to Islam, and encourage them to deliver the children of Israel. Pharaoh, believing he was a god, refused in both cases. Allah sent to different punishments between Egyptian droughts, floods, locusts, frogs and lice.When showed that the Pharaoh did not give in, Musa and the Israelites fled Egypt in the middle of the night. When Pharaoh found his slaves were on the run, led an army in pursuit. The Israelites stood before a sea that could not be crossed. Allah has caused the sea to fragment and Moses and his people went ashore. When Pharaoh saw that he tried to cross too. But when his army reached the sea, God has brought together the water, drowning them all.When Pharaoh saw that his death was imminent, said: “I believe in the God of Musa.” But it was too late. He will be one of the deepest levels of hell.

The difference between the prophets and Messengers of Allah in Islam

In Islam, there is a difference between a prophet and a messenger. All prophets were messengers of Allah. But not all prophets were messengers. The Arabic word for messenger Rasul.

The prophets were sent to their people to teach them and judge them based on a previous law or message. The messengers are the prophets who were sent a new message and law, usually to an unbelieving people.

Therefore, as the prophets Dawood (David) and Sulaiman (Solomon), have been sent to judge their own people according to the law sent to Moses. They were prophets, but not messengers.

However, Musa (Moses) has brought a new law (The Tawrat), so it was a messenger. Isa (Jesus) has also brought a new law (Injeel), so it was a messenger and prophet. And Prophet Muhammad brought the Qur’an, so it was a messenger and prophet.
Prophets in the Koran

There have been thousands of prophets in Islam. However, only 25 of them are mentioned in the Koran.